Dieterich Buxtehude Quiz Questions and Answers
Q1. In which modern-day country was Dieterich Buxtehude born?
A. Germany
B. Denmark
C. Sweden
D. Poland
Answer: B. Denmark
Q2. Buxtehude spent most of his professional career as organist at which church?
A. St. Thomas Church, Leipzig
B. St. Mary’s Church, Lubeck
C. St. Michael’s Church, Hamburg
D. Thomaskirche, Erfurt
Answer: B. St. Mary’s Church, Lubeck
Q3. Which composer is known to have walked over 250 miles to hear Buxtehude play in Lubeck?
A. George Frideric Handel
B. Heinrich Schutz
C. Johann Sebastian Bach
D. Georg Philipp Telemann
Answer: C. Johann Sebastian Bach
Q4. Buxtehude’s Abendmusiken were public concert series held at St. Mary’s Church. On which five Sundays were they traditionally performed?
A. The first five Sundays of Lent
B. The last five Sundays before Christmas
C. The five Sundays after Easter
D. The five Sundays in September
Answer: B. The last five Sundays before Christmas
Q5. Which instrument did Buxtehude primarily compose for during his Lübeck tenure?
A. Harpsichord
B. Violin
C. Organ
D. Lute
Answer: C. Organ
Q6. Buxtehude’s cataloging system uses “BuxWV” numbers. What does “Bux” stand for?
A. Buxtehude
B. Buxtehude Werke Verzeichnis
C. Buxtehude’s catalog by Alfred Bux
D. Buxtehude’s complete works
Answer: A. Buxtehude
Q7. Which of the following is a famous praeludium by Buxtehude?
A. Praeludium in G minor, BuxWV 149
B. Praeludium in C major, BuxWV 137
C. Praeludium in D major, BuxWV 122
D. Praeludium in E minor, BuxWV 153
Answer: A. Praeludium in G minor, BuxWV 149
Q8. Buxtehude’s vocal works are predominantly in which language?
A. Latin
B. Italian
C. German
D. French
Answer: C. German
Q9. Which genre did Buxtehude help develop through his ostinato-based organ works?
A. Toccata
B. Chaconne and Passacaglia
C. Ricercar
D. Canzona
Answer: B. Chaconne and Passacaglia
Q10. In 1705, both Handel and Mattheson traveled to Lübeck to audition for Buxtehude’s position. Why did they ultimately decline the post?
A. The salary was too low
B. The organ was in disrepair
C. The job required marrying Buxtehude’s daughter
D. They were offered better positions elsewhere
Answer: C. The job required marrying Buxtehude’s daughter
Q11. Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu Nostri is a cycle of how many cantatas?
A. Five
B. Seven
C. Nine
D. Twelve
Answer: B. Seven
Q12. Which part of Christ’s body is addressed in the first cantata of Membra Jesu Nostri?
A. Hands
B. Knees
C. Feet
D. Side
Answer: C. Feet
Q13. Buxtehude’s cantatas often employ what type of compositional technique typical of the stylus phantasticus?
A. Strict fugal imitation
B. Free rhapsodic sections alternating with imitative ones
C. Homophonic chorale settings only
D. Ground bass throughout
Answer: B. Free rhapsodic sections alternating with imitative ones
Q14. Which instrument is prominently featured in Buxtehude’s trio sonatas, Op. 1 and Op. 2?
A. Viola da gamba
B. Traverso
C. Harpsichord
D. Lute
Answer: A. Viola da gamba
Q15. Buxtehude’s Op. 1 trio sonatas were published in which year?
A. 1676
B. 1694
C. 1706
D. 1686
Answer: B. 1694
Q16. Which composer did Buxtehude succeed as organist at St. Mary’s Church in Lubeck?
A. Franz Tunder
B. Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
C. Samuel Scheidt
D. Heinrich Scheidemann
Answer: A. Franz Tunder
Q17. In Buxtehude’s organ works, what is a “plenum” registration typically used for?
A. Soft echo effects
B. Full organ with principals and mixtures
C. Solo reed stops
D. Flute stops only
Answer: B. Full organ with principals and mixtures
Q18. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the North German organ school exemplified by Buxtehude?
A. Pedal virtuosity
B. Stylus phantasticus
C. Strict counterpoint in all sections
D. Echo effects
Answer: C. Strict counterpoint in all sections
Q19. Buxtehude’s cantata “Alles, was ihr tut” is based on a text from which biblical book?
A. Psalms
B. Colossians
C. Matthew
D. Revelation
Answer: B. Colossians
Q20. Which scale degree does Buxtehude often emphasize in his praeludia for dramatic effect?
A. Leading tone
B. Subdominant
C. Neapolitan sixth
D. Augmented second
Answer: A. Leading tone
Q21. Buxtehude’s “La Capricciosa” is a set of variations on what type of dance?
A. Courante
B. Bergamasca
C. Sarabande
D. Gigue
Answer: B. Bergamasca
Q22. In which city did Buxtehude work before moving to Lubeck?
A. Helsingor
B. Copenhagen
C. Hamburg
D. Helsingborg
Answer: A. Helsingor
Q23. Buxtehude’s “Ciacona in E minor” is written for what medium?
A. Organ
B. Harpsichord
C. Violin and continuo
D. Solo voice
Answer: A. Organ
Q24. Which of the following composers was NOT directly influenced by Buxtehude?
A. Johann Pachelbel
B. Nicolaus Bruhns
C. Dietrich Becker
D. Arcangelo Corelli
Answer: D. Arcangelo Corelli
Q25. In Buxtehude’s organ works, what does the term “fuga” typically indicate?
A. A strict four-voice fugue
B. A short fugal section within a praeludium
C. A chorale-based fugue
D. A pedal fugue only
Answer: B. A short fugal section within a praeludium